Pre-conference interviews 1) Osborne rules out a mansion tax and new council tax bands

"‘We are not going to have a mansion tax, or a new tax that is a percentage value of people’s properties,’ he said…Likewise, adding a new council tax band for big houses was a ‘tax snoopers charter’…Council tax is to be frozen for a third year in a row – a move worth £80 a year for the average Band D council tax payer – and rail fare rises will be limited to four per cent, worth £45 to the average season ticket holder." – Mail on Sunday

> Today: With Osborne ruling out a mansion tax, what will Clegg do on welfare reform?

Pre-conference interviews 2) Cameron confirms third year of council tax freeze and on per cent cap on rail fare hikes…

"Despite months of pummelling from critics on all sides, the PM insists he has NOT lost touch with working Britain. To prove it, he uses an exclusive interview with The Sun today to unveil a double-barrelled boost for commuters and earners — a one per cent cap on crippling train fare hikes and another year’s council tax freeze. Speaking ahead of the Tory party conference which starts in Birmingham today, the fired-up PM told us: “It has been a difficult year…Never mind a difficult year for me — it is a difficult year for Britain." – Sun on Sunday

"The Prime Minister also vows today to use Britain’s veto, if necessary, to block “outrageous” attempts to increase the European Union’s overall budget in upcoming negotiations to set total spending for the years 2014 to 2020. “If it comes to saying 'no’ to a deal that isn’t right for Britain, I’ll say 'no’, he declares. He also puts forward a “bold thinking” plan for the EU to have two separate budgets – one for the 17 nations in the eurozone and another for the 10 outside it, including Britain. This could potentially save the UK money – but would effectively set up a two-tier Europe." – Sunday Telegraph

"Visa controls to prevent an influx of immigrants from some European Union countries are being considered by the Tories in a move that challenges one of the fundamental tenets of the EU. In an interview with The Sunday Times, Theresa May, the home secretary, says the EU’s freedom of movement directive, which guarantees the right of its 500m citizens to travel freely within the EU, should be reviewed. She is concerned that EU expansion and unfettered freedom to travel could lead to big levels of economic migration. Work restrictions on migrants from Romania and Bulgaria are lifted next year, with experts forecasting an influx of jobseekers." – Sunday Times (£)

"First, they think the Nineties phenomenon of ‘shy Tories’ – people not being prepared to say they are voting for the party – has returned…Second, they are confident that incumbency gives them an advantage…Third, they think they can be more targeted. In 2010, the Tories were trying to take 160 seats. This time, they are looking at just 40. I’m told the list will include more than ten Lib Dem seats." – James Forsyth, Mail on Sunday

"Boris Johnson is in talks with a nervous Downing Street about what he can say at the Tory party conference amid fears that he will use his whirlwind visit to upstage David Cameron. The London mayor begins his conference appearances tomorrow evening in Birmingham with an address to 800 activists entitled “Boris Johnson’s 2012 — re-elected and Olympotastic”.…One senior Tory said: “There is fear at No 10 that he could upstage the PM. He has been asked to clear everything, which he has reluctantly agreed to do.” – Sunday Times (£)

The Cameroons need to act over Boris as if they’re mad as hell and they’re not going to take it any more – Matthew D'Ancona, Sunday Telegraph

Boris Johnson reminds Tories of what David Cameron has lost – Andrew Rawnsley, Observer

Fox: This is no time for a leadership contest

"Fox, who stood unsuccessfully against Cameron for the Tory leadership in 2005, said he would “never say never” when it came to his leadership ambitions but insisted: “I don’t have any at the moment.” He was uncompromising, however, when it came to those whispering against Cameron. “Any of my colleagues who have raised these issues with me gets exactly the same response: we need to get back to a debate about substance and not about personality,” he said." – Sunday Times (£)

Westminster Council to publish millionaire life of benefit claimant – Sunday Times (£)

Five Tory councils call for firms to be offered cut-price business rates for helping jobless youngsters into work – Sun on Sunday

Lord Carey to tell fringe meeting that gay marriage could have 'drastic' consequences including risk of polygamy – Mail on Sunday

Lord Ashcroft: The fight for the suspicious strivers

"Cameron and Miliband will be fighting over the voters I call the
“Suspicious Strivers” – people who work hard to ­support their families
but don’t think they get the rewards they deserve. They struggle with
the rising cost of ­living but miss out on help that seems to go to
others who don’t make the effort that they do…If David Cameron wants to
stay on at Number 10 he needs to convince people who work hard but have
little to show for it that he is on their side." – The People

"Topline figures are CON 31%, LAB 45%, LDEM 8%, UKIP 8%. The 14 point Labour lead reflects the bigger Labour leads we've shown in our polling since Ed Miliband's speech, and certainly suggests they've received a boost from their party conference. Turning to Ed Miliband specifically, his job approval rating is minus 9, a big jump from minus 29 last week and his highest since early in his leadership in 2010 and early 2011." – Anthony Wells, Sunday Times (£)

> Today: Columnist Nadine Dorries MP – Number 10 is simply throwing red meat to Christians over abortion – it will not reduce the limit

Matt Hancock "rejects his official departmental photograph amid claims he thinks it is not statesmanlike enough" – Mail on Sunday

> Please use the
thread below to provide links to news topics likely to be of interest to
ConservativeHome readers and to comment on political topics that haven't been
given their own blog. Read our comments policy here.

Please use the thread below to provide links to news topics likely to be of interest to ConservativeHome readers and to comment on political topics that haven’t been given their own blog. Read our comments policy.